Conservative or Liberal, Deist or Pagan, Jersey transplant or Lehigh Valley native, we're all in this mess together. Let's talk. Let us do no harm. Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne

20 comments:

What are the chances of Hershman, Ramos, Fegley and MacClean getting elected ?

Oh my, would this bring down the house , if just one of these guys won their election or is it too little too late. Keep hammering away at the tax hike that city council is hiding from the public until Monday night. get on the local radio shows bc the morning call wont help spread the word , even though they are well aware of the hike.

Come on guys. The informed people in our city, will be voting for you and supporting you any way possible. This town needs to be cleansed from these corrupt politicians.

This has been the subject of considerable debate for some time. Had you asked me six months ago, I would have argued they have no chance at all because democracy is dead in Allentown. It's been replaced by an oligarchy in which crony capitalists finance compliant officials who is turn give them favorably and publicly subsidized deals.

The federal investigation has turned off the money spigot to these politicians, and they in turn are incapable of flooding mailboxes with flyers. This is a climate in which democracy can begin to assert itself once again.

Real watch dogs like Low Hershman and Rich Fegley are barking, but does anyone hear? We'll find out Tuesday.

The Morning Call has been dragged, kicking and screaming, into covering this matter. But it is incredibly still hiding the tax increase that Fed Ed will introduce next week. Fortunately, word is getting out. This blog, MM's blog and Facebook posts by people like Fegley and Trotner have opened people's eyes.

It must be working bc Fed Ed goons like Ed DeGrace have tried unsuccessfully to bully both MM and I in recent days.

You say the same thing (i.e., "clueless") each and every time Ramos' name is mentioned here at this blog so I'm voting for Ramos simply because I resent the fact that you sound like a broken record that is in desperate need of a thesaurus .

Actually, if City Council were to have some district seats, that would reduce the pernicious influence of money and make council more representative of the people and less representative of developers and their affiliates. I wish we could have a few more "clueless" ideas like that.

1:17 AM continually calls Ramos clueless. and your proof of the clueless claim is what? provide proof. anyone with a 7th grade math or econ background can see the scam in regards to the real numbers, not what they tell you.

if you really believe in the hope and change scam / slogan for the last 8 years do something about it. instead hacks like 1:17am , kept voting in the fed ed regime.

1+1=2 and most know that, yet fed eds bean counters will tell you this daily, but in reality, the numbers never work out.

this town needs to be saved. this town needs to be cleaned up and it starts with city hall/council and the mcall.

It is awfully interesting how O'Hare is not reporting on the hypocrisy that is happening with the Ramos, Armstrong, Smith, and Hershman campaigns. All four of their mailers were paid for by Common Sense Solutions. Who is Common Sense Solutions? It is a PAC that was established just 45 days ago on 9/15. Who established the PAC? Dean Browning established it. How much money? In the past 45 days those 4 campaigns have received a total of $17891.40 in donations. Ramos: $4,375, Armstrong: $4,570.70, Hershman: $4,210.70, and Smith: $4,735. Why are these "Independent" candidates taking so much from a PAC that is run by a person who does not live nor vote in Allentown? Why are 90% of all the contributors to the PAC do not live nor vote in Allentown? Why is the blogoshere not reporting that information? Seems one sided on the reporting.

I, for one, am delighted to see Team Pawlowski finally get screwed in the money game, and with money contributed by someone who does not have his hand out and is not expected a city contract. By the way, JB Reilly, Butz, Bennet and Atiyeh are all non-City residents. This money gives these guys a fighting chance, something the never had in the Fed Ed reign.

@2:27 That is completely false and you know it. Emily Opilio reported on it on 10/22 in the article headlined "Candidates for Allentown Allentown City Council weigh on FBI probe". In the article she states that "A proposed tax increase has been discussed, although the city has yet to release its 2016 budget plan." Immediately after that statement Lou Hershman commented on a proposed tax increase. So to say they are providing cover and keeping people in the dark is ridiculous.

@2:27 That is completely false and you know it. Emily Opilio reported on it on 10/22 in the article headlined "Candidates for Allentown City Council weigh in on FBI probe". In the article she states that "A proposed tax increase has been discussed, although the city has yet to release its 2016 budget plan." Immediately after that statement Lou Hershman commented on a proposed tax increase. So to say they are providing cover and keeping people in the dark is ridiculous.

A"proposed tax increase has been discussed" is not anywhere near a report that a tax hike is definitely coming. Julio Guridy acknowledged one is coming. If I know, so does the MC. But it is not telling its readers, which is completely irresponsible if not complicit. The City will make sure voters do not know until after the election.

lol- love how those on the dark side/fed ed's side, feel this blog is one sided.really now?

love how those on fed ed's side want to expose the cash flow from pacs to the Ramos: Armstrong: Hershman: and Smith.

yet when the public demands the same info from the dark side, people and those in the media actually doing their job for the people are told to go to hell.

the clock is ticking and the criminals / politicians , and more importantly , those who support them or received cash from them will lose their power and some will lose their freedom, and you all know who you are...tic tic tic tic